A.N.: Well, I certainly enjoyed writing this :-) Hope you'll enjoy reading it then.

What else can I say?... PM, review, favorite, like ;-)

Cool Ranch:

Troubled times

As Bernardo closed the huge oak doors of the manor, Ashley felt a little free now that the townsfolk weren't gazing at her.

'' Thanks,'' she said to Rodrigo.'' Never thought the frogerales would jump on me like that on the first day. Nice place you have by the way,'' she added looking around at the sunlit courtyard. In the middle stood a fountain that poured refreshing water out of it's tip. Farther were smaller doors probably leading to the upper levels.

'' Gracias. I saw we had much more to discus about your search.'' Rodrigo gestured to Bernardo and he stepped at Ashley's side immediately.'' Bernardo will take you up to the living room. I will join shortly,'' she watched as the bull went away. The rooster waved for her to follow. He led Ashley trough the west doors and up the marble stairs. The room was wide with a row of tall windows. You could easily see a path leading in to the canyon. A rug covered the floor. Right stood a fireplace, the coal was still red. Around the fireplace were cushioned armchairs, behind them- a chessboard. A few bookcases pressed against the wall. Ashley even saw a guitar standing in a corner.

Cozy. She sat in one of the armchairs and watched how Bernardo lighted up a fire in the fireplace. One of the loose bricks caught Ashley's eye. She had a tiny guess what it does, but decided to act as if she knows nothing. Her face burned red as the fire started to prickle. Ashley narrowed her eyes, wondered why the rooster hasn't said anything.

'' Why so quiet?'' she asked, but Bernardo just frowned. Ashley thought for a minute then gestured.'' Are you deaf?''

He nodded and answered in gesture too:

'' Deaf and mute,'' well that certainly surprised Ashley. She saw his face was ashamed.

'' You know, I have a friend that's mute. He's a buccaneer, but a sweet friend. You would get along nicely,'' Bernardo gifted her with a wide smile and a bow. Soon Don Rodrigo came trough the door. He carried a trey with a few glasses and a bottle of Yum.

'' I hope Bernardo has made you comfortable?'' he asked lying the trey on a coffee table and sitting in the other chair.

'' He didn't have to do much,'' Ashley answered.'' It's wonderful and comfy in one way or another.'' Rodrigo poured Yum. Before he could reach Ashley's glass she disagreed.

'' I thought all pirates drink this,''

'' All but me. Sorry, but maybe tea would just cover it...wait you thought I was a pirate?''

Rodrigo gestured for Bernardo then explained.'' Not at first. It came when I met your humble crew.''

'' Can't blame ye. But I go more for the wanderer title.'' she waited when the bull took a sip of his drink. '' So, um...about El Toro. I'm guessing you don't know much?''

Rodrigo sighed with satisfaction and lowered his Yum. '' On the contrary. I am a friend of Toro...'' trumpet music cued, but Ashley sat calm. '' I may contact him if you'd like.''

'' You can?'' she acted surprised. '' That would be very helpful.''

'' Yes, but I must warn you: El Toro, '' the music cued once more. Now that's really strange, '' might not reply. El Toro (music) has many enemies who would lure him to his doom with false cries for help,''

'' I understand,'' answered Ashley. Bernardo returned with the tea. He gave it to the swashbuckler, she thanked him, and took a seat between the two. '' I heard all kinds of traps they use. Usually involving a citizen, torturing him till Zo...ahem, Toro saves the poor guy. But I have to say: my cry is as real as the canyon over there,'' Ashley pointed to the window.'' I don't have any threats for the hero, just a talk.''

'' Hmm...'' Rodrigo sat in his chair, thinking. Finally, after some silence, he spoke up.'' If you want to win Toro's trust...'' once again music played from somewhere. Ashley frowned, but listened.'' help the people of Santo Pollo as he does.''

'' Oh, I suppose the other part of Cool Ranch people I help-don't count?''

The bull laughed.'' I'm afraid so. But I know where you might start, if you'd follow...''

'' Okayyy...just one last question, if you may,'' Rodrigo nodded.'' Where the heck is that music coming from?!'' Ashley checked her chair's sides,'' Do you have a stereo here or something?'' when she straightened in her seat, Rodrigo saw her inspecting a little thing. Bernardo jumped excitedly and took the little chess piece Ashley had, looked at it and handed to his master.

'' Ah, one of the pawns. I wondered where I lost it,'' he laughed rolling the tiny pawn.'' And to answer your question, my young friend...I honestly do not know.''

XXX

'' Estella Castillo came to me this morning, asking for help about the church,'' Rodrigo and Ashley walked out of the manor, the bull pointed to a house near it. '' You see, she is the town's pillar...''

'' So, she needed...decorating help?'' Ashley looked at him confused.

'' No, the church was attacked yesterday by Banditoads,''

'' Of course,'' the girl rolled her eyes,'' El Toro,''

'' Si,'' Don Rodrigo glimpsed at the pillar's house then turned back to Ashley.'' I wish you luck, traveler. Before you go I will say this-times are so troubled, I think Toro cannot be far away,'' Ashley had to resist not to smirk. She thanked Rodrigo for the tea and went to Estella's house. As soon as she knocked, the door flew open. Estella was a young mare, wared a puffy purple dress and a hat with a pink trim. Spectacles rested on her snout. After minutes of explaining she finally said:

'' This is a blessing indeed! The Banditoads hurt us so much, it is hard to even begin picking up the pieces. They struck at night without warning! All night they rampage, smashing things and beating any who dared to fight back. Toro drove most of them away, but I fear some of the villains may still be hiding in Santo Pollo. We're even afraid to set foot inside the church!''

'' You are afraid? They are the ones that have to keep away!'' disagreed Ashley.'' But I can check if it's safe. I just need to gather my team,''

'' Oh gracias, senorita, gracias!''

Ashley then went up to the ship and ordered for Ratbeard, Scratch and Bonnie to join her. A short explanation was enough to get them in the church...that didn't look like much right now.

'' Look at this place!'' Ratbeard's voice echoed trough the ruined place.'' The Banditoads are gone, but the chapel looks like a typhoon hit it!'' the colorful rugs were messy and thorn, here or there the fire still burned. Their smoke swirled up trough a broken, painted glass window above. Most of the roof was lying on the stony floor, not to mention the chicken statues and sets of candles.

Ashley scratched the back of her head.'' Don't you mean an earthquake?'' from the look of her associates, she figured that the currently mentioned Nature Wrath didn't happen very often in the Spiral. '' Well, then let's see what we've got. Go on scouring for clues,''

'' You mean either that banner over there?'' the girl followed where Scratch pointed his bony finger, and indeed notice a black banner on one of the pillars that held the church. In the middle it had a letter T.

'' That must be the mark of Toro,'' said Bonnie.

'' No...really?'' Ashley said sarcastically.

'' Well the T could stand for Toad or Tumbleweed,'' giggles echoed trough the church.

'' Ha, yes Scratch. Either than that,'' they split up and began searching. I just hope nothing was stolen, Ashley thought remembering a Zorro episode. She went by the walls, checking every pile of ruins, till reached the altar...or the place it had been. Ashley took a stone and turned it in her hand. The girl squatted down and whipped off the chunks and dust. They reveled nothing. Ashley sighed and stood up, looking at the painted glass in front of her. Her eyes narrowed as she approached the one on the right, where a Cool Ranch style painting of Maria was. Scratch's voice echoed before Ashley could touch it.

'' There is nothing 'ere, captain my captain,'' Ashley bit her lip, then shouted an order:

'' Check the upper levels, where the organ and the bells are,''

'' Aye, Holystone,'' answered Ratbeard. The girl turned back to the glass. Her fingers slid down it's black frame, carefully pushed the side and with a pop it opened to a secret passage. The air wasn't damp and cold, but perfectly warm and pleasant. Ashley looked back at her friends and decided to scour the passage without them.

As she closed the painted glass behind her back the cold feeling returned. Ashley felt how it was becoming difficult to breathe, but tried to keep it calm. She adjusted her purple western hat and went deeper. The passage was pretty dark and Ashley could barely see anything, even almost tripped over pointy rocks. Her hands soon clutched over a torch on the rough cave wall. Matches, Ashley dug in her backpack till she pulled out a little box with three matches. Why didn't I use these in the first place?!

The sparks hissed and the torch gave light. Ashley didn't know how long she walked, but after awhile the passage became more and more straight. The feeling in her chest suddenly vanished. The girl hanged her torch and looked around where she ended up. The place had a desk and a few cases to the wall. Ashley saw there was medicine standing on the shelves. All kinds, especially for nasty wounds and injuries. The desk was more of a crafting table, with plans and experiments scattered on it. Ashley looked at a small dish that held something flat and black. She raised one to her eye and took a good look. It was like a mini smoke-pellet, like the ones LaFitte, her teacher, showed in class once. But those were round like gumballs, while the one Ashley had is flat as paper. She leaned closer to the sketches. In Spanish language there was something written, but Ashley looked at the drawings: A gumball-sized pellet - made to a flat pellet. A flat pellet can be placed and perfectly hidden in any compartment of the robe. Produces the same amount of smoke as a regular pellet, thou weights far less...

Interesting, thought Ashley and grinned at the thing. She panned to sit back in the chair and read the document a little more, but the sound of steps from the opposite cave made her split. The girl tucked away the pellet to her back pocket, grabbed for the torch and ran up the passage as silently as she can.

Ashley made sure her crew mates wouldn't see her coming out of a window. She carefully closed the painted glass, leaned to a solid wall and breathed in relief. She slightly smirked, excited of her discovery and fitting on the Zorro's story.

'' Anything?'' Ashley finally shouted.

'' Nope,'' three voices echoed back. Bonnie added looking over the second floor:

'' No Banditoads and nothing's stolen. We found a few valuables 'ere...''

'' Then leave them. Let's go and see what else we can do,''

XXX

Next was the baker, who had carried away with loosing sugar to some Banditoads. Ashley waited patiently if the rooster would suddenly stop running around her in circles, sometimes garbing his head and groaning. Why was he running around? As I mentioned: Sugar and Banditoads, but he needed that sugar to make a wedding cake. Bonnie rolled her eyes, Ratbeard rubbed between his eyes. Scratches's sight made Ashley grab the bakers shoulder.

'' Dude, calm down, will ye?''

'' What am I to do?!'' he shouted miserably. '' Don Gutierrez's lovely daughter is to be married tomorrow...The Banditoads have destroyed my bakery and stolen all my sugar! How can I bake the cake? How will I endure the shame of it?''

Ratbeard muttered under his breath.'' Bakers these days...''

'' You realize you're one of them?'' said Scratch. Ashley turned back to the rooster.

'' Again, cool down. We'll get the sugar back, and strike a blow for Santo Pollo in the process.''

XXX

After awhile fighting those warty toads and sinking five steamers in a row, Ashley, with the help of her crew, walked to the baker who started repairing his kitchen. Dozens of sugar sacks hung from their backs, till finally the young captain dropped the first sack to the bakers claws.

'' There's my sugar!'' the rooster said cheerfully.'' You have saved the cake, but I fear you must save the wedding, too.''

'' Wha...What is it with those dumb toads? It's like their' everywhere!'' commented Ashley.

'' No kiddin' ,'' agreed Bonnie.

'' Um, Don Gutierrez needs you this time...can you help him as you helped me?''

'' Sure,''

'' What?! Cm' on, it's almost sundown,'' protested Ratbeard.

'' What's wrong with you today? These people need help. Look on the bright side: Maybe it'll be easy and we'll be in bed by nine,'' the group went up to the town. Ashley noticed a mustang wearing a blue suit and talking to Don Rodrigo. She saw him making a quick glance towards them. He then comforted Don Gutierrez with his last words, gave him a friendly slap and approached Ashley. The girl told her crew mates to go and figure out the mustang's problem, while she stayed behind and talked to the bull.

'' How is it all going?'' asked Rodrigo. Ashley sighed loudly.

'' Exploring the church, sinking ships for sugar, saving a baby from a fire...ha, don't pay attention to the last one. The thing is that I don't get how Toro...'' there was trumpet music again. Ashley glimpsed over Rodrigo's shoulder, but found nothing and continued.'' how Toro does this nonstop.''

The bull laughed.'' Believe me, you're not the first to wonder this,''

'' I know. Perhaps Don Gutierrez'll be the last one who needs help. Toro's lucky: he will be on brake tonight.''

'' Yes, but Oscar's need is dire.''

'' How dire?'' Ashley frowned.

'' I trust you have heard of the wedding? Gutierrez's daughter, the bride, has been kidnapped,'' Ashley stood silent for a few seconds.

'' Banditoads?'' she asked carefully.

'' I'm afraid so. But I wager you'll swiftly get her back. I bid you good night, my young friend,''

'' Uh, yeah, good night...'' as Rodrigo went away Ashley saw her three crew mates staring at her. They probably found out the same thing.

'' I stand corrected...'' Ashley said feeling slightly guilty,'' where to?''

'' The cantina,'' announced Bonnie,'' That's where the last Banditoads are hiding. They might know something,''